Pedometer.



No. 738,482. PATENTED SEPT. 8,1903.

W. B. PORTERL PEDOMETER.

APPLICATION IILED F-EIBQZE, 1903.

I0- IODEL.

W ltnesse s I nventor.

m. @MWM M2 Attorneys:

UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.

WILSON.E. PORTER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PEDOM ETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,482, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed February 26, 1903. Serial No. 144,961. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILsoN E. PORTER, of the city and county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pedometers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact deseription, when taken in connection with the accompanyin g drawings, which form a part thereof, and in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a pedometer embodying my invention; Fig 2, a rear view of the same with the case removed; Fig. an edge view thereof; Fig. i, a detail view of one of the movement-plates; Fig. 5, a rear view of the spring-catch and cam-stop; Fig. 6, a detail view of the spring-catch alone, and Fig. 7 a detail view of one of the springpawls and part of the ratchet.

In all the figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

My invention relates to improvements in pedometers, and has for its object the production of a novel form in which the adjustment for the varied length of steps may be easily and quickly accomplished.

To this and other ends my invention consists in the improvements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, the part designated by the letter A represents the case of the pedometer, and B the dial thereof.

C and D are the two movement-plates sup ported by pillars e and carrying the operating mechanism, which consists of a lever F and weight f, pivoted to a post G and held normally by a spring 9 against a stop H. A ratchet I is engaged by spring-pawlst' and J, the former mounted onthe movement-plate D and the latter on the lever F. Each of these pawls is formed of a plurality of light metal springs i, F, and and j, j, and of varying lengths. The difference between the length of the springs is so proportioned, as shown herein, that when the difference is less than the distance from one tooth of the ratchet I to the next it is only necessary for the circumference of the ratchet to travel a part of the distance between two successive teeth for one of the springs to engage in one of the notches, as shown in the enlarged detail view, Fig. 7. As thelever is moved from its normal position by the jar caused by the step of the pedestrian, the spring-pawl J travels over the teeth of the ratchet I, which is held against movement by the pawl 1 At the end of the stroke of the lever the spring g returns it to its normal position against the stop H, and the spring-pawl J rotates the ratchet I, which rotation is registered on the face of the dial by the hand through registering mechanism of any usual character and not herein described. To adjust the stroke of the lever so that the ratchet I will. be rotated the proper distance to register a single average step of the pedestrian, a cam-stop K is pivoted on the movementplate D by a screw it or other suitable means. Said stops may be of substantially the form of that shown in the patent to Kuhn, No. 694,652, granted March 4, 1902.

The cam-stop K has rigidly connected to it a spring-catch L, which maybe formed of sheet metal and curved to substantially the pattern shown in Figs. 5' and 6, whereby sufficient elasticity is obtained at the outer end of the catch. Any movement of the spring-catch L will be communicated to the cam-stop K, and when the former is held stationary the latter will be likewise heldl At its outer end the catch is provided with a stud l and a depending pin M. A portion of the periphery of the movementplate D is formed on the are of a circle having at its .center the point N, at which the cam-stop K is pivoted, and its curved surface (1 is serrated for engagement by the pin M 011 the spring-catch L. The surface of the movement-plateD in proximity to and corresponding with the curved surface 61 may be provided with a scale 0 to indicate the movement of the camst0p K.

P is a knurled head on the end of the shaft carrying the indicator-hand Z), by which the indicator may be adjusted as desired.

To adjust or regulate the length of move ment of the weighted lever F, the pin M on the outer end of the spring-catch L is disengaged from the notch of the serrated edge (I, (which disengagement is permissible because of the elasticity in the curved spring-eatch,) and the spring-catch is moved in one direction or another and the cam-stop correspondingly turned on its pivot until the cam has been brought to a position to limit the stroke of the lever F as desired, when the pin M will engage in the corresponding notch of the curved surface (1. e

e I claim 1. In a pedometer, the combination with a Weighted lever; of an indicator; a registeringtrain for actuating said indicator, and oper' ated by the movement of said weighted lever; a fixed stop to limit the movement iof said lever inone direction; a rotatable cam-stop for limiting its 'movement in the reverse direction; and a spring-catch rigidly seeured to said cam-stop for holding said cam in the desired position, substantially as described.

2. In a pedometer, the combination with a Weighted lever; of an indicator; a registerin g train for actuating said indicator and operated by the movement of said Weighted lever; a fixed stop to limit the movement'of said lever in one direction; a rotatable cam-stop for limiting its movement in the reverse di-' rection; and a spring-catch rigidly secured to said cam-stop to rotate the same and to hold it in the desired position, substantially as described.

3. In a pedometer, the combination With the movement-plate; of'a Weighted lever pivoted thereon; an indicator; a registering-train for actuating said indicator, and operated by the movement of said Weighted lever; a fixed stop to limit'the movement of said lever in one direction; arotatable cam-stop for limiting its movement in the reverse direction; a spring-catch rigidly secured to said cam-stop adapted to engage the serrated edge of said movement-plate, and to rotate said cam-stop, substantially as described V In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 24th day of February, 1903.

" WILSON E. PORTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. BRIsroL, SAMUEL H. FISHER. 

